August falls and Kilkenny are where they want to be. This time last year they were kicking their heels, watching from afar as the big festivals of the harvest went ahead without them.

Brian Cody went to both All-Ireland finals – he wouldn't say he loved the experience but he went because it didn't occur to him not to.

This time around, a seat closer to the action is a priority. Never generally one for too much retrospection, at least in public, he rejects the widespread idea that Kilkenny’s shortened summer in 2013 was down to the petrol tank emptying far sooner than in other years.

“I don’t think that happened to us. I don’t think so. We were happy to be playing those matches last year and it wasn’t a question of us running out of legs at all. It’s just that we never played to a fantastic level last year. We dug out games and fought powerfully to win games against Tipperary and Waterford – the spirit and drive were excellent. But we weren’t hurling freely.

“Freshness has always been a part of our game, part and parcel of it, keeping going until September. I don’t think freshness has ever been a problem for us, nor will it be the next day. I don’t think you can tire of being competitive or of striving to make the All-Ireland final.”

Cody has been impressed with Limerick’s dogged insistence on stitching another season of achievement onto the one they enjoyed last summer.

Having dropped out so meekly at this stage of the 2013 race, gathering together the gumption to go again has struck him as just the sort of thing a top team is capable of.

‘Was impressed’

“I was impressed with Limerick [against Wexford] and before that as well. They were in an All-Ireland semi-final last year and would have been disappointed that they didn’t play to their potential in that game. They’ve been working since.

“They’re strong all over the field, have great experience, plus they’ve some great players who have come through in the last few years.

“Against Wexford they were outstanding. They were looking ahead of that match obviously as it went on, with everyone fighting for his place. It’s a competitive situation. They have a strong panel, they showed that. They lined out without Donal O’Grady who is obviously a huge player for them. The thing worked seamlessly with the quality of subs coming on as well.

"The reality of the Munster final was that they could have been five or six up after 10 minutes. Unusually Shane Dowling missed a couple of frees – he never does that and won't ever do it again probably. And there were even shots from play that missed. That was certainly gone out of their play the last day. They've obviously worked on that. They're very dangerous opposition."

The big difference with the Kilkenny panel this season is the general health level. Michael Rice apart, Cody looks like he will have a full squad to pick from when he names his team later in the week.

Michael Fennelly and Richie Power have both been taking a full part in training, although whether or not they're match fit will take most of the week to decide. Henry Shefflin is another whose presence from the start isn't guaranteed.

Season of change

It’s been a season of change for Cody’s side.

Richie Hogan

has been reinvented as an all-action midfielder, TJ Reid has become the tip of the spear and leads their attack.

Both players are running neck and neck at the top of the betting for Hurler of the Year. For Reid especially, it has been a season of renewal after effectively losing the guts of two years due to a broken kneecap.

“It’s been very hard for him,” says Cody. “He got a very, very bad injury in the All-Ireland final a couple of years ago with a broken kneecap. And then last year on the back of that he had hamstring trouble so he didn’t really get a free run at it. He has worked very hard.

“He’s one of those players who is very skilful and he goes out and enjoys it. And when you put in that amount of effort, you want to work. You want to go out on the field and have it pay off for you.

“Players lead in their own way. He’s had free-taking duties for the last while and he’s done that very well. So essentially that’s leadership in and of itself anyway, to take on that responsibility. But like I said, every player is capable of bringing leadership in their own way.

“He loves hurling, he wants to play hurling and he’s in great shape as well. He’s put in huge effort to get back playing.”